In summary
Taking a morning Eurostar from London to Paris (or in some cases Lille) and then changing to a TGV is an enjoyable way to travel to ski resorts in the Alps, TGV trains are very smooth and comfortable and they can get you to lots of ski resorts - and often it is a as fast as flying, door-to-door. This option can make a cheaper alternative to the Eurostar Ski Train, especially on peak dates.
Where to
Resorts in France, Switzerland, Italy and Austria
Recommended resorts
Les Arcs, La Rosiere, La Clusaz, Brides Les Bains, Meribel, Les Menuires, Tignes, Montgenevre, Claviere, Bardonecchia, Sauze d'Oulx, Crans Montana, Verbier, St Anton.
When you can travel
Daily throughout the season, with extra or more direct services on Saturdays and Sundays to some destinations.
What the trains are like
On-board experience on Eurostar
On-board experience on TGV
What it costs
Adult return fares from London start from £109, but you might typically pay £120 - £320 return, depending on when you book, and for what date.
When you can book
For the winter 2013-14, booking will open around 5th October 2013, and you can usually book 90 days in advace of your travel date. However, some tour operators offer rail packages with Eurostar + TGV included, and you can already book these now. Click on the ski packages section and you can view these. These packages also include a transfer from station to resort, and as well as being easy to book (the tour operator does it all for you) they are good value too.
How to book
There are several ways that you can book a Eurostar + TGV journey to the Alps.
1. If you haven’t chosen your ski resort yet, you can view our recommended resorts (see above) or visit the ski resorts and journeys page. For each ski resort you’ll be able to see 2013-14 journey schedules and resort guides, and then view booking options for independent travel and for ski packages from tour operators with rail travel included.
2. If you’d like to browse ski packages from tour operators with train travel included, check out the ski holidays by train section, which has packages that you can already book for the 2013-14 winter season.
3. If you know already know exactly where you are going and only need to book independent train travel, then visit our train price guide section, which will give you price advice and point you to the best independent booking options. For Eurostar + TGV journeys, independent train bookings open around 90 days in advance of your travel date.
